The moment Max had first realized the venue for this event was a giant ship isolated out at sea, a sinking feeling had taken root in his gut. He knew instinctively that this was the kind of environment where trouble didn’t just happen, it became inescapable.
Originally, their plan had been simple and surgical. They would join the events, earn enough money to stabilize their operations, and do just enough to avoid antagonizing the Black Hounds. Max had hoped to show them a calculated display of strength, just enough to make the Hounds think twice before attempting to swallow them whole. After all, despite being the newer organization, the Billion Bloodline group was technically on the same level as the Black Hounds in terms of scale.
The issue, however, was that this setting provided the perfect opportunity for an ambitious predator to eliminate the competition. Max had only brought three people with him, a tiny footprint in a territory where influence was measured in blood and numbers. The only thing partially saving Max thus far was the thin corporate veil he had maintained; the investment service company and the Bloodline group were still being treated as two separate entities. But Max wasn’t naive. He knew it was only a matter of time before someone connected the dots, if they hadn’t already.
All the "what-ifs" and tactical hesitations were now behind them. The reality was a cold wind at their backs and a wall of Black Hound members closing in. They were trapped at the very edge of the ship, the railing pressing into their spines.
"You ran us into a dead end, boss," Darno said, his voice strained as he shifted the weight of the semi-conscious Stephen. "Now what? Are we taking our last stand right here, or are we going to jump so we can at least say we took our own lives rather than letting them do it for us?"
The slow, rhythmic sound of clapping cut through the tension. The crowd of thugs parted like a dark sea to allow Darius and Jett to step forward.
"I have to admit, everything you have done so far has been rather entertaining," Darius said, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. In this world, with our reputation and Jett as the undisputed champion of this underground fighting ring, no one dares to touch us."
Darius took a step closer, his eyes gleaming. "Even those who have the power to challenge us stay away out of fear of the Gilt Rats backing us. So, watching you struggle? It’s been a refreshing change of pace. I wish the two of us could have fought for longer as well, it’s been a long time since I’ve had a fight."
Max looked back over his shoulder, peering down into the abyss. The sea was a churning, white-capped void below. Usually, when a person jumped off a cruise ship of this size, the displacement of the water and the wake of the massive engines would suck them under or push them out into the open ocean. The water would be freezing, a liquid tomb that left the survivor stranded in a vast, empty expanse. At night, with a search area so wide and the current so strong, it was nearly impossible for a rescue team to find someone, especially if no one was actually looking for them.
Max turned back to face Darius, his expression unreadable.
"I don’t suppose giving you your money back would change anything about our current situation, would it?" Max asked.
Darno shot a surprised look at Max. He was technically just an employee, not a full member of the Bloodline group’s inner circle, and Max’s apparent surrender baffled him. Hadn’t they just gone through blood, sweat, and tears to secure this capital? What was the point of all that effort if they were just going to hand it over at the first sign of a cliff?
"You already tried that move once," Jett interjected, his voice cold. "We’re not going to let you play that card again."
"Right," Darius added, his tone sharpening. "The Billion Bloodline group is clearly not a normal organization. It looks like I’ll need to look into every detail of your history. Who you really are yourself, it’s clear you’re not a normal young man, but for now, I’ve decided you’re all far too dangerous to just let walk away with a simple payment. And don’t bother threatening me with your major backers or using certain names to try and scare me. In Notting Hill City, there is no group bigger than the Gilt Rats. You have no sway here."
Max backed up until the metal railing was the only thing between him and the drop.
"Darno... you need to trust me on this," Max whispered, so low the wind nearly snatched the words away. "You have to trust me, alright? I know exactly what I’m doing."
Before Darno could even ask for clarification, Max acted. He turned his body slightly and gave a final command.
"Hold onto Stephen, and brace yourself!"
With a sudden burst of strength, Max shoved Darno as hard as he could. Darno’s eyes went wide as he lost his balance, his body, and Stephen’s along with it, falling backward over the railing and plummeting toward the dark water. Max didn’t wait to see them hit. He turned his head one last time to look at Darius and the gathered Black Hounds, his gaze burning with a promise of vengeance.
"You will regret that you didn’t get rid of me today," Max claimed.
Then, he stepped off the edge, disappearing into the cold embrace of the sea.
****
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